Mar. 2—BROOKINGS — Dan Jackson will stroll onto the sector as head coach of the Jackrabbits for the primary time when South Dakota State kicks off spring soccer apply.
The primary of their 15 classes begins at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The Spring Sport (sure, they’re having one) is slated for Saturday, April 12.
Clearly, the Jacks will look markedly completely different than a yr in the past, when their season ended with an FCS semifinal loss to North Dakota State.
Jimmy Rogers and his whole teaching employees are gone, together with quarterback Mark Gronowski, receiver Griffin Wilde, linebacker Adam Bock, cornerback Dalys Beanum and a number of other different offensive and defensive starters.
Jackson introduced again former SDSU coordinators Eric Eidsness (offense) and Brian Bergstrom (protection) to deliver some familiarity to the brand new teaching employees, and was ready to usher in a handful of transfers to restock the roster.
Now the work begins.
There are a lot of questions dealing with the Jackrabbits as spring arrives, listed here are 5 we’ll be focusing in on this week:
1. The post-Gronowski period begins
Off to the Iowa Hawkeyes for his remaining yr of school soccer eligibility, all Gronowski did was take the Jacks to 3 nationwide championship video games, profitable two, whereas going undefeated as a starter at residence. Not a foul legacy.
In steps Chase Mason, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior who was nothing wanting one of many biggest highschool athletes in state historical past. The Jacks gave him loads of reps over the past two seasons after he transferred in from Nebraska, and he regarded nice as a runner and good as a passer.
Is he able to be the every-down QB1? How properly can he command the huddle and work beneath stress? When Eidsness was final right here he developed Taryn Christion into the Jacks’ all-time main passer. It will be fascinating to see what he can do with Mason.
In the meantime Tak Tateoka, a former starter at St. Thomas, has transferred in to push senior Jon Bell for the backup spot, whereas former Dell Rapids standout Jack Henry continues to develop as a possible future starter.
2. Who totes the rock?
Johnson and Johnson (Amar and Angel) have moved on. So did promising kids Kirby Vorhees and Maxwell Woods. The highest returners embrace former 9-man star Brenden Begeman and redshirt freshman Quinton Renfro, however Jackson introduced in a possible impression runner in Nate White, a switch from Wisconsin.
White, who has three years of eligibility, was a four-star recruit popping out of highschool, when he selected the Badgers over Minnesota, Iowa State, Purdue and Vanderbilt. Will he be prepared for normal carries by Week 1? The spring will go a great distance in the direction of deciding that.
3. How shortly can the transfers assimilate?
White is considered one of many coming to SDSU from one other faculty soccer program, as Jackson embraced the switch portal — partly out of necessity — to restock the roster after so many defections.
There’s little query that the Jacks acquired legit expertise. White is considered one of a handful of gamers to return over from the Massive Ten, whereas decrease degree transfers like linebacker Matt Goehring (Division II USF) and offensive sort out John Pica (NAIA Dakota Wesleyan) are seemingly able to being vital contributors.
All of them should discover their place in this system, and the adjustment interval is completely different for everyone. The Jacks have arguably seen extra success in gamers who transferred as much as the FCS degree than down. The spring session will likely be important for newcomers to get themselves able to take significant snaps within the fall.
4. Who will step up?
One factor that may not be completely different even when Rogers had by no means left could be the chance spring presents for individuals who have been ready within the wings and can now get their first likelihood to interchange departed starters.
The aforementioned Begeman and Renfro at working again are two that will likely be value keeping track of, however there are numerous others.
Huge receiver Jack Smith was the 2023 South Dakota participant of the yr for Lincoln Excessive Faculty and impressed final yr as a redshirt. Can he assist fill the void left by Wilde?
Linebackers Joe Ollman and Chase Van Tol, defensive ends Nick Wells and Reis Kirschenman, offensive linemen Will Paepke and Shane Willenbring, tight ends David Alpers and Greyton Gannon and cornerback Noah St. Juste are just some gamers who’ve already proven promise that will likely be seeking to get a soar on turning into the following wave of stars that may lead this group to a championship.
5. What’s going to the Dan Jackson tradition appear to be?
John Stiegelmeier spent greater than 20 years cultivating an atmosphere that grew to become each the spine and the heartbeat of Jackrabbit soccer, and it culminated in this system’s first nationwide championship in 2022. When Rogers took over he did a quietly excellent job of sustaining the Stiegelmeier tradition whereas including his personal delicate tweaks — specifically, a extra hard-edged and demanding method.
Jackson was an enormous a part of that tradition for a very long time. He was at one level Stiegelmeier’s assistant head coach and high recruiter, and was so well-liked with gamers many brazenly hoped he would finally succeed Stiegelmeier. Jackson labored alongside Rogers, Eidsness, Bergstrom, Jason Eck, Zach Lujan and so many different extremely profitable former Jackrabbit coaches, and later went by way of some essential rising pains on the FBS degree. Bringing again Eidsness and Bergstrom ensures this system will nonetheless be much like the one Stiegelmeier created.
However these coaches are all new to the gamers at present on the roster. By all indications, Jackson has already calmed the waters and introduced again stability to this system. The gamers are purchased in.
Will Jackson be as profitable at carrying on the custom? Expectations stay excessive regardless of the turnover. Rogers had the benefit of inheriting a flawless roster in 2023, whereas Jackson has a ton of inquiries to reply and issues to resolve.
Can he put his personal stamp on this system and win whereas doing it? That work hits the sector beginning Tuesday morning.
